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GARDEN STATE COALITION OF SCHOOOLS GSCS EMAILNET 1-17-09 Public Support for Public Education
Federal Stimulus package, Commissioner Davy letter re economy, state budget, preschool, more…
Find out @ www.gscschools.org gscs2000@gmail.com
GSCS QUICK FACTS: GSCS Board meeting January 28, 2009, 3:30 pm at the East Brunswick Board - Members welcome; Executive officers are to meet at 2 pm prior to the meeting. Please RSVP gscs2000@gmail with your attendance plans.
Governor’s Budget Message: legislation is now moving through the legislature to change the date of the Message to March 12.
SAVE THE DATE - GSCS GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MGT IN BERGEN COUNTY GSCS General Membership Open Meeting: Wednesday, February 25, 7:30PM, Leonia. (Detailed information will soon follow in EMAILNETs, as well as be posted on www.gscschools.org). The meeting will include 'Conversation with Education Commissioner Lucille Davy’.
OVERVIEW: GSCS on Current School Funding Pcture
Given the economy, GSCS is working hard to represent its members’ concerns to the Statehouse.
While the economy has taken the front row, the Governor, the Commissioner and legislative leadership are beginning to show the direction that the state budget – which impacts local school budgets and local property taxes directly – will take for next year, Fiscal Year 2009-2010 (FY0910). Certain signals sent to date are:
1. The Governor’s announced reductions for this current budget (FY0809) included a major $75M aid reduction to schools. (There were other education cuts that mainly impact Department of Education programs.) However, this $75M reduction was couched by the Governor as depending on his pension deferral legislation passing. If the proposed bill were to pass, then the reduction would be offset since funds districts would have had to spend on pensions for certain employees would not be required to be spent yet. However it is a big “if” that this controversial legislation will pass because a number of key Democrat Senators have already said they will not vote for it.
Questions:
If the deferral bill does not pass, where and how will the Administration find the required $75M reduction?
Will specific aid lines to schools be cut (e.g., special education, transportation, ESL, general education programs?)?
What aid lines will the Department of Education debit in reducing the aid?
Will all types of school programs be impacted or only some?
2. Current state funding context:
The Governor’s Budget Message is now being backed up until March 12 based on the stated need to know what will be available through the anticipated federal stimulus packet (see below/House proposal posted on GSCS website 1-15-09).
The Commissioner’s letter to schools later this past Friday (see below for full letter) states that “…I am recommending you immediately take the same steps that we have taken in the Dept: freeze all non-essential and discretionary spending and carefully review the necessity of all expenditures for the remainder of the school year...Although I do not have any news at this time regarding K-12 funding for next year, I can tell you while the Governor remains firmly committed to the expansion of high quality preschools programs for children at risk because of poverty, we are awaiting decisions from the new administration and Congress re the federal economic stimulus package. Given the state's fiscal crisis, it will be difficult to fund preschools expansion for September 2009 without federal funding... [clearly] you need a decision on this [ASAP] and we expect to have more [for you] by mid-to-late February. Under any circumstances, however, we will NOT ask local taxpayers to fund these programs..."
While it appears that it is possible there will be federal funding to support certain programs, such as preschool and school construction, there remains a large void in what will happen to K-12 education funding.
Questions:
• Will the new school funding formula be funded in its second year? To what extent?
• If not, how will the available federal funding be directed and distributed?
• Will special education extraordinary aid reach its statutory level?
• Will the Administration find enough relief in mandate reduction to help offset aid cuts with any real impact?
• How many communities will have to support their schools and accept program cuts without help from either the state or the federal stimulus funding?
• Will school consolidation emphasis be held up as a way to resolve funding issues?
The reality remains that costs of consolidation/regionalization loom large and complex: tax equity, where one or more communities will have to pay more in taxes when consolidation or regionalization of districts occur; teacher salaries will not go down and are more likely to increase, nor does teaching staff get easily reduced under consolidation.
GSCS believes that stability for schools and communities is a primary goal during these times of national and state economic crisis.
GSCS’ focus on the legislature and the Administration is higher than ever. GSCS has been and continues to be meeting with key legislator to keep our members’ concerns and needs known.
GSCS will be calling on its members soon with recommended communications for local districts to send to Trenton and to Washington D.C.
GSCS is providing two major forums in the north (2/25) and south (3/25) and will be joined by the Commissioner for interactive conversations.
Stay informed with GSCS, and stay tuned…...
GARDEN STATE COALITION OF SCHOOOLS
GSCS EMAILNET 1-17-09
Public Support for Public Education
Federal Stimulus package, Commissioner Davy letter re economy, state budget, preschool, more…
Find out @ www.gscschools.org gscs2000@gmail.com
GSCS QUICK FACTS: GSCS Board meeting January 28, 2009, 3:30 pm at the East Brunswick Board - Members welcome; Executive officers are to meet at 2 pm prior to the meeting. Please RSVP gscs2000@gmail with your attendance plans.
Governor’s Budget Message: legislation is now moving through the legislature to change the date of the Message to March 12.
SAVE THE DATE - GSCS GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MGT IN BERGEN COUNTY
GSCS General Membership Open Meeting: Wednesday, February 25, 7:30PM, Leonia. (Detailed information will soon follow in EMAILNETs, as well as be posted on www.gscschools.org). The meeting will include 'Conversation with Education Commissioner Lucille Davy’.
OVERVIEW: GSCS on Current School Funding Picture
Given the economy, GSCS is working hard to represent its members’ concerns to the Statehouse.
While the economy has taken the front row, the Governor, the Commissioner and legislative leadership are beginning to show the direction that the state budget – which impacts local school budgets and local property taxes directly – will take for next year, Fiscal Year 2009-2010 (FY0910). Certain signals sent to date are:
1. The Governor’s announced reductions for this current budget (FY0809) included a major $75M aid reduction to schools. (There were other education cuts that mainly impact Department of Education programs.) However, this $75M reduction was couched by the Governor as depending on his pension deferral legislation passing. If the proposed bill were to pass, then the reduction would be offset since funds districts would have had to spend on pensions for certain employees would not be required to be spent yet. However it is a big “if” that this controversial legislation will pass because a number of key Democrat Senators have already said they will not vote for it.
Questions:
§ If the deferral bill does not pass, where and how will the Administration find the required $75M reduction?
§ Will specific aid lines to schools be cut (e.g., special education, transportation, ESL, general education programs?)?
§ What aid lines will the Department of Education debit in reducing the aid?
§ Will all types of school programs be impacted or only some?
2. Current state funding context:
The Governor’s Budget Message is now being backed up until March 12 based on the stated need to know what will be available through the anticipated federal stimulus packet (see below/House proposal posted on GSCS website 1-15-09).
The Commissioner’s letter to schools later this past Friday (see below for full letter) states that “…I am recommending you immediately take the same steps that we have taken in the Dept: freeze all non-essential and discretionary spending and carefully review the necessity of all expenditures for the remainder of the school year...Although I do not have any news at this time regarding K-12 funding for next year, I can tell you while the Governor remains firmly committed to the expansion of high quality preschools programs for children at risk because of poverty, we are awaiting decisions from the new administration and Congress re the federal economic stimulus package. Given the state's fiscal crisis, it will be difficult to fund preschools expansion for September 2009 without federal funding... [clearly] you need a decision on this [ASAP] and we expect to have more [for you] by mid-to-late February. Under any circumstances, however, we will NOT ask local taxpayers to fund these programs..."
While it appears that it is possible there will be federal funding to support certain programs, such as preschool and school construction, there remains a large void in what will happen to K-12 education funding.
Questions:
· Will the new school funding formula be funded in its second year? To what extent?
· If not, how will the available federal funding be directed and distributed?
· Will special education extraordinary aid reach its statutory level?
· Will the Administration find enough relief in mandate reduction to help offset aid cuts with any real impact?
· How many communities will have to support their schools and accept program cuts without help from either the state or the federal stimulus funding?
· Will school consolidation emphasis be held up as a way to resolve funding issues?
The reality remains that costs of consolidation/regionalization loom large and complex: tax equity, where one or more communities will have to pay more in taxes when consolidation or regionalization of districts occur; teacher salaries will not go down and are more likely to increase, nor does teaching staff get easily reduced under consolidation.
GSCS believes that stability for schools and communities is a primary goal during these times of national and state economic crisis.
GSCS’ focus on the legislature and the Administration is higher than ever. GSCS has been and continues to be meeting with key legislator to keep our members’ concerns and needs known.
GSCS will be calling on its members soon with recommended communications for local districts to send to Trenton and to Washington D.C.
GSCS is providing two major forums in the north (2/25) and south (3/25) and will be joined by the Commissioner for interactive conversations.
Stay informed with GSCS, and stay tuned…...
Find out at www.gscschools.org :
1-16-09 p.m. Commissioner Davy letter re economy, constraints required, preschool initiative, more
Excerpts: "...recommending you immediately take the same steps that we have taken in the Dept: freeze all non-essential and discretionary spending and carefully review the necessity of all expenditures for the remainder of the school year...I can tell you while the Governor remains firmly committed to the expansion of high quality preschools programs for children at risk because of poverty, we are awaiting decisions from the new administration and Congress re the federal economic stimulus package. Given the state's fiscal crisis, it will be difficult to fund preschools expansion for September 2009 without federal funding... [Clearly] you need a decision on this [ASAP] and we expect to have more [for you] by mid-to-late February. Under any circumstances, however, we will NOT ask local taxpayers to fund these programs..."
More...
1-16-09 'Senate Releases Second Portion of Bailout Fund'
New York Times, January 16, 2009 WASHINGTON — President-elect Barack Obama’s economic agenda advanced rapidly in Congress on Thursday as the Senate voted to release the second half of the financial industry bailout fund and House Democrats unveiled an $825 billion fiscal recovery plan aimed at putting millions of unemployed Americans back to work....."
More...
1-16-09 Today's news notes state budget waiting on Obama stimulus package
Philadelphia Inquirer, Fri, Jan. 16, 2009 'Preschool plan in peril, Corzine says - An effort to aid low-income children may be delayed because of a looming state budget shortfall'..."A looming state budget shortfall could delay New Jersey's plans to expand preschool for low-income children unless the Obama administration provides financial aid..."
N.J. to wait for fed report before budget is presented Friday, January 16, 2009, NorthJersey.com "...He is also hoping to get funds from Congress for the fiscal 2010 spending plan and wants to hold off on presenting a budget — and some expected new cuts — until after the state learns just how much federal money is coming..."
More...
1-15-09 Attached is full House Releases re: its Fed Stimulus Package
House Committee on Appropriations Releases its Federal Stimulus Package, click on More for full release pdf...
More...
1-15-09 House Committee on Appropriations releases federal stimulus package
Click on More to see details released ... increases federal share of IDEA funding, more for early childhood education and school construction...
More...
1-15-09 GSCS HEADS UP - Budget Message date to be delayed now to March 12
1-15-09 OF NOTE at the Statehouse today – Two bills in Assembly Budget and Appropriations hearing: A3649 Assemblyman Louis Greenwald & (Identical bill S2506 Senator Barbara Buono) Extends transmittal date of fiscal year 2009-2010 gubernatorial budget message to Legislature to March 12, 2009.
(THIS BILL, which had been posted for a committee vote, WAS HELD/NOT DISCUSSED IN THE COMMITEEE TODAY)A3650 Assemblyman Louis Greenwald & (Identical Bill S2507 Sen. Barbara Buono) Amends the Fiscal Year 2009 appropriation act to implement certain components of the Executive's plan to offset shortfalls in State revenues.
1-14-09 Meeting with Mayors, Corzine warns of cuts
'Corzine warns mayors of decrease in aid to towns' The Star-Ledger "A day after delivering a somber analysis of the state's financial woes in his State of the State address, Gov. Jon Corzine told mayors today they should expect less state aid in his next budget..."
More...
1-14-09 Press of Atlantic City editorial
Press of Atlantic City Editorial: "...But where the speech did disappoint was the precious few indications Corzine gave of how he will deal with those multibillion-dollar deficits facing the state now and during the next budget year. That's the proverbial elephant in the Statehouse..."
More...
1-13-09 Governor Corzine Delivers State of the State Message
1-13-09 Excerpt re: comments on public education in Governor Corzine’s Message: “…Our schools, from pre-K through college, rank among the very best in the nation…This month, Education Week rated us as one of the top five systems for overall performance in the nation and number two in providing a chance for our graduates to succeed in life. Test scores across the state reinforce their conclusion. Results count. We already lead the country in graduation rates and in access to quality pre-school. While there are clear exceptions, New Jersey schools give most of our children an exceptional opportunity to build a bright future. The new school funding formula for which we now are seeking court approval will only strengthen our commitment to success. That formula recognizes that 50 percent of disadvantaged students live beyond the borders of Abbott districts. The formula fulfills the state's obligation to provide a thorough and efficient education to all children, wherever they live. In fact, even though we cut the overall state budget by $1.4 billion, we've held firm in increasing total spending on education by nearly $500 million. Beyond our financial commitment, we're also working to upgrade standards, curricula, and graduation requirements in all of our schools.
More...
1-11-09 'Corzine State of State speech to put economy front & center'
ASBURY PARK PRESS: "...He said national challenges are impacting almost every aspect of life in New Jersey. “On the other hand, we have a lot of good things that are happening in New Jersey by comparison.” STAR LEDGER: "Last year, Gov. Jon S. Corzine warned in his State of the State speech that New Jersey was dangerously deep in debt and bold moves - such as reducing the state's budget and leasing the state's toll roads - were needed to get out of the predicament....A year later, Corzine faces the harder task of describing the status of New Jersey in an election year in which official predictions expect state revenue to fall about $2.1 billion short by the end of the budget year in June and just one week after his administration announced $812.2 million in additional cuts..."
More...
1-9-09 State Senator requests education committee hearing on potential school funding cuts
"...Cuts in education funding may be needed to solve the $2.1 billion deficit currently projected for this year, and the $5 billion plus deficit estimated for next year. Legislators must have all the information needed to do a thorough and complete review for before voting on budget cuts..."
More...
1-7-09 NJ education ...ranks fifth in national report
Press of Atlantic City 'New Jersey education gets a B-minus, ranks fifth in national report' "Students in New Jersey's well-funded schools have a very high chance of succeeding in life, according to the (Education Week)Quality Counts 2009 report released Tuesday. But students with limited English skills still struggle, a problem that is growing nationwide..."
1-7-09 'Meeting to Discuss Tight School Funds'
Asbury Park Press Wednesday, January 7 LITTLE SILVER: The borough's Parent Teacher Organization will hold a public information meeting Monday to discuss the possible impact of the state's financial crisis on public education funding.
The presentation will begin at 8 p.m. at the Markham Place School, located between Branch and Prospect avenues.
Special guest speakers include Lynne Strickland, executive director of the Garden State Coalition of Schools, and state Sen. Jennifer Beck, R-Monmouth, who will report on current legislation that affects school funding.
The coalition is a statewide volunteer association comprised of parents, board of education members and school administrators.
More...
1-6-09 Proposed Spending Reductions & some Initial Reaction in the News
Star Ledger - Governor seeks extra $812M in cutbacks Ax to fall on everything from cities to agriculture
"...The emergency cuts stretch across state government departments and programs, including some of Corzine's most cherished, like the state comptroller and stem cell research. Grants were frozen for cancer research and homeland security, and aid to public schools and towns will suffer..."
MyCentralJersey.com January 6, 2009
"State's unions ought to heed Corzine's call for a pay freeze"
More...
